Mugabe prepares to form unity government and fires ministers: media

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is preparing to form a unity goverment after firing a number of ministers from his Zanu-PF party who lost in the March 2008 elections, state media said on Saturday.

"What I can tell you is that President Mugabe has already started preparing an administration," George Charamba, state secretary for Information told The Herald newspaper.

Charamba would not reveal further details about the makeup of the power-sharing government and the exact date of its possible formation.

The US last month announced that an inclusive government in Zimbabwe was not possible with Mugabe at the helm.

According to the paper, Mugabe earlier this week fired 12 ministers and deputy ministers from his Zanu-PF party.

Among the ministers fired were Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who is in charge of Information, Samuel Mumbengegwi for Finance and Oppah Muchinguri for Women's Affairs.

Deputy ministers for health, and agriculture were among those who lost their posts.

Last week Zimbabwean authorities issued prime-minister designate and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Morgan Tsvangirai a new passport to enable him to return home from Botswana.

Tsvangirai won a first round presidential vote in March 2008, but pulled out of a June run-off, saying the violence had left more than 100 of his supporters dead.

Zimbabwe's three main political rivals signed an agreement in September to form an all-inclusive government aimed at ending the country's ruinous economic meltdown.

But the formation of the government has been delayed by disagreements over the allocation of key cabinet ministries, such as the home affairs and local government.

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